A Planning Program for Worcester Polytechnic Institute: The Future of Two Towers - Part Three: A Model

VI. FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODEL (Where Do we Go From Here?)

A proposed model for WPI is presented in this report in outline form. It is important that at this point the entire College understand how far we have come in the Planning Program (cf."The Future of Two Towers", pp. 4-5) and what must be done before the College can commit itself to the new program.

There remains the problem of supplying, between now and 1 December 1969, enough detailed analysis of the proposed model so that every member of the WPI community can fully understand and evaluate it, can be sure it is valid in terms of carrying out the philosophy and stated goal, and can see his own role in the program. In addition, a detailed costing of the proposed operation and of its implementation is essential.

At this time the Planning Committee suggest ten different areas which require intensive study.

1. College Environment and Student Life
2. Financing and Cost Estimation
3. Organizational Structure of the College

a. Job descriptions and staffing of the various components
b. Selection and organization of faculty study groups
c. The constitution of the faculty as a deliberating body

4. Courses

a. Transition courses
b. Short courses of the "how-to-do-it" type
c. Summary courses and scheduling

5. Examinations, comprehensive and sufficiency
6. Details of Advising Procedures
7. The Graduate Program
8. Implementation of the New Program
9. Development of Program Support
10. Evaluation of Imputs from the WPI community

The remainder of this section outlines, briefly, the work to be done in each area, suggests appropriate staffing, and indicates an action which will allow the work to proceed.

1. College Environment and Student Life

This area is of at least as much importance as the educational program outlined in the model as presented herein. The Planning Committee believe firmly that development of this area requires extensive imput and effort by the students themselves, and, therefore, the problem was set aside until the students returned to the campus in the fall of 1969. The present report does contain a set of suggested forms and some questions to be considered. It is now proposed that full development of this most important area be delegated to a special sub-committee consisting of:

4 students
2 members of the office of student affairs
2 faculty
1 member of the Planning Committee (serving as chairman)

It is expected that this sub-committee will consider imputs from the entire community and will enlist the aid of additional students as needed. A complete model and its implementation is required.

2. Financing and Cost Estimation

While the preliminary cost analysis shows that the proposed program is financially feasible, it is necessary that a detailed financial picture be available. It is imperative that costing be done with two considerations in mind. First, cost estimates should be presented on staff and facilities necessary both for an optimum program and for a minimal program. These costs should not be computed as increments on the present program or extrapolations of the present cost estimating formulae; the proposed program is not like the present one. Second, it is essential in drawing comparative costs between the present and proposed models that the proposed program not be penalized by present inadequacies. (For example, faculty currently involved in experimental work spend a large fraction of their time acting as technicians and secretaries. The new program adequately staffed in these areas should only be compared with the present program adequately staffed by the same criteria. Inadequacies in the current library collection are a second example, and the model will clearly influence priorities.)

The task of preparing this total financial analysis should be assigned to a sub-committee consisting of: 1 Head of Department 3 faculty 1 member from Business Office 1 member from Dean of Faculty's Office 1 student 1 member from the Planning Committee (serving as chairman)

3. Organizational Structure of the College

This report contains a suggested organizational structure of the College (Section III), and some key items are discussed. It is essential that duties, staffing, and responsibilities of the components be clearly defined, and the structure must be carefully reviewed for its workability and modified as necessary. For this task the following sub-committee is suggested:

2 faculty
1 student
1 Head of Department
1 member of the President's staff
1 member of the Planning Committee (serving as chairman)

As part of this work the proposed faculty study groups and divisions need special attention. It is suggested that the committee develop a set of study groups and submit them to the faculty with a request that each member indicate his primary and secondary choices from the set augmented by any other groups he believes relevant. This committee should develop proposals for the study group divisions, their organization, and staffing. In this latter connection the Planning Committee believe that scholarship should be a prime consideration in selecting leadership and that purely administrative functions should be handled by administrative assistants.

The structure of the faculty as a deliberating body is already under study by the faculty-elected Faculty Constitution Committee.

4. Courses

The three types of courses suggested in Section II-A of this report need to be studied in detail and possible scheduling considered. Special attention will have to be given to the courses designed to provide a transition from the structured curricula of most secondary schools to the unstructured program of the model. Suggested course offerings, duration, and mode of presentation should be developed.

This task could be assigned to a sub-committee of the existing Curriculum Study Committee.

5. Examinations, Comprehensive and Sufficiency

The nature, need, and advisability of the comprehensive and sufficiency examinations require careful consideration. In particular, examples of each type of examination should be developed so that a complete and understandable specification of the degree requirements stands out. This task could be assigned to a sub-committee consisting of:

2 students
3 faculty (one of whom serves as chairman)
1 member from Office of Student Affairs

6. Details of Advising Procedures

It is impossible to over-estimate the importance of the advisors and the Council of Advisors in the proposed model It is also important that each member of the WPI community have a clear picture of what happens to the student who enters the College for the first time. It is, therefore, essential that the duties of and the information needed by the advisor and the Council of Advisors be established. In this task a sub-committee should be appointed consisting of:

3 faculty
3 students
1 member from the Office of Student Affairs

7. The Graduate Program

The present report makes no attempt to analyze possible graduate programs, but it is clear that a graduate program would not only enhance the proposed undergraduate program but is essential for its success. It therefore is important that a description, standards, and costing of a graduate program be developed at an early date. It is suggested that this task be assigned to a sub-committee consisting of:

2 faculty (chosen for their participation in the present graduate program in interdisciplinary areas)
1 faculty member (serving as chairman)
2 graduate students

8. Implementation of the New Program

Some discussion of the implementation of the new program is given in Section V of the present report. It is necessary that this be considerably amplified. The nature and extent of a pilot-program, the point and mode of transition from the present organization to the new one, and the details of how the total program will be phased in must be specified. For this task, a sub-committee should be appointed consisting of:

3 faculty
2 students
1 Head of Department
1 member of the Planning Committee (serving as chairman)

This committee should also examine needs for modifications to facilities.

9. Development of Program Support

The proposed program will require extensive support in terms of off-campus projects with industry and government. In its optimum form, the program will also require additional financial support. Exploration of these areas could be assigned to a sub-committee consisting of:

2 faculty
2 alumni
1 member of Development Office Staff
1 member from Director of Research staff (serving as chairman)

10. Evaluation of Imputs from the Members of the WPI Community

It is not unreasonable to expect that many comments requiring modifications and clarification of the model will be received. It is entirely possible that the Planning Committee, in spite of its efforts to examine the positive aspects of every suggestion, has overlooked a better possibility than that proposed herein. The Planning Committee should continue to receive and evaluate all criticisms and comments.

In order to implement the further actions discussed above and to staff the various sub-committees, the Planning Committee request that interested members of the faculty, student body, and administration volunteer in writing to the Committee before 8 October 1969.